As if having psoriasis isn't enough, the condition may increase your risk for a number of other medical conditions. Here's what you need to know about psoriasis and its related health complications.

In addition to the direct challenges of psoriasis — scaly skin, itching, bleeding — there are a number of other health problems that can be linked to this autoimmune disorder. Psoriatic arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes are just a few of the conditions associated with psoriasis.

Why are people with psoriasis vulnerable to so many other ailments? Inflammation appears to be the key reason, says Jashin J. Wu, MD, a dermatologist and director of dermatology research for the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. "Inflammation in general is not a good thing for the body," Dr. Wu says. "When there’s a lot of inflammation, many other systems can be affected. It’s the common denominator between psoriasis and a host of other conditions."

Health Conditions Associated With Psoriasis

To protect yourself, here's what you need to know about conditions that are both directly and indirectly related to psoriasis:

Psoriatic arthritis. One in every three people with psoriasis also develops psoriatic arthritis, a condition that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints. According to Wu, this most often happens about 10 years after the initial psoriasis diagnosis as the inflammation caused by the disease works its way into the joints and tendons. However, some people have psoriatic arthritis without developing psoriasis. This has led to speculation that the diseases are actually separate, says Wu.

Cardiovascular disease. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, if you have severe psoriasis, your chance of having a major cardiac event is 58 percent higher than that of people who don't have psoriasis, and your risk for stroke is 43 percent higher. And that gap further increases for younger people: A 30-year-old person with severe psoriasis carries three times the heart attack risk of a 30-year-old without psoriasis.

Again, inflammation is the culprit. "Cardiovascular disease is a type of inflammation of the blood vessels," says Christopher Morris, MD, a rheumatologist with Arthritis Associates in Kingsport, Tenn. "We've discovered that inflammatory markers are a better indicator of cardiovascular disease than cholesterol levels."

Diabetes. People with severe psoriasis are 46 percent more likely to also have type 2 diabetes, and those with mild psoriasis are 11 percent more likely — even in the absence of traditional risk factors for this form of diabetes, such as obesity. Inflammation can cause or exacerbate insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

Mood disorders. One in every four people with psoriasis experience depression, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. This likely results from the pain, anxiety, and decreased self-esteem that often accompanies the disease. Research shows that people with severe psoriasis have a 72 percent increased risk for a mood disorder, while those with mild psoriasis have a 38 percent increased risk.

Cancer. Psoriasis has also been associated with an increased risk for certain cancers, such squamous cell carcinoma and lymphoma. One study found that people with psoriasis are 40 percent more likely to develop certain types of cancer than the general population are, but the actual cause of this increased cancer risk is still unclear

Obesity. People with psoriasis are more likely to be obese than people without psoriasis, with a 30 percent increased risk for those with mild psoriasis and an 80 percent increased risk for those with severe psoriasis. However, doctors haven't figured out whether one causes the other. "Which comes first is hard to say," says Dr. Morris, "but we do know that people who are obese are more likely to have psoriasis."

Kidney disease. If you have moderate or severe psoriasis, you have an increased risk for kidney disease, according to a 2013 study published in the British Medical Journal. Researchers found a 36 percent greater risk of kidney disease for those with moderate psoriasis and 58 percent greater risk for those with severe psoriasis. However, if your psoriasis is mild — defined as affecting 2 percent or less of your total body surface — your risk usually will be no greater than that of the general population.

Peptic ulcers. People with psoriasis are 22 percent more likely to get ulcers than people without psoriasis. Once again, inflammation is the chief suspect in this increased risk factor.

High cholesterol. High levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (or LDL) cholesterol are also more common among people with psoriasis. In fact, psoriasis brings a 28 percent increased risk for high cholesterol compared to the risk among the general public.

Reducing Your Risk for Psoriasis Complications

To keep other illnesses at bay, the first step is to manage the inflammation accompanying psoriasis, Wu says. Psoriasis medications for inflammation may help ward off other related conditions.

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